A Tour of the Best Markets in Trabzon

The natural beauty of Trabzon, Turkey's jewel on the Black Sea, might distract you from visiting the excellent best markets in Trabzon. 

Like other ancient Turkish cities, it is not just about enchanting nature, but also about bazaars and shops that combine traditional and modern styles. 

These places will amaze you with their atmosphere, the goods they offer, and competitive prices. 

This article gives you an idea of the best markets in Trabzon and the most important tips to consider when shopping.

The Best Markets in Trabzon

1. Trabzon Bazaar: Also known as Meydan Bazaar, it is located near Trabzon Square, also named Kemal Ataturk Square. It's the vibrant heart of the city, making it easy to reach by public transportation, or even on foot, providing the best way to explore the local culture. As you approach this bazaar, you will hear the sounds of copper and metalwork, as this place is one of the best markets in Trabzon to buy various types of jewelry, serving as valuable souvenirs that carry the unique essence of this ancient market. Artisans allow you to watch them learn about this ancient craft in Turkey. You will also find various textiles and beautiful clothes at preferential prices for all ages. You can reach the area via Trabzon Square stops, where cars will take you directly to the place. Some of these stops are located on Bank Street east of Trabzon Square, where taxi services are available.
2. Bedesten Market Trabzon: A historic market built in the Ottoman style in the 16th century, it is part of the city's cultural heritage, with its magnificent domed ceilings and stone and wooden features that evoke authenticity. Bedesten Market is almost the cheapest in Trabzon, offering visitors a great margin to negotiate prices, whether for buying fabrics and handmade textiles, embroidered carpets and furnishings, or jewelry and colorful pottery. The market is generally characterized by friendly sellers, and if you understand Turkish, you will enjoy hearing their stories and experiences.
3. Monday Market: A popular weekly market held every Monday on Eski Erzurum Street in Trabzon, also known as Degirmenda Market, attracts tourists and locals looking for good and cheap fruits and vegetables, as well as clothes, fabrics, household tools, and handmade items. It is one of the popular markets in Trabzon distributed throughout the week, which stimulates the local economy with movement and vitality, especially thanks to its economical prices that draw a huge crowd.
4. Moloz Market Trabzon: Located in the rural area of Caykara, not far from the beautiful Uzungol Lake. In this market, you will find the best natural products such as dairy derivatives and jams made by the locals, as well as organically grown vegetables and fruits, free from any traces of fertilizers or chemical pesticides.
5. Varlibas Shopping Center in Trabzon: It gives Trabzon Square a different shopping meaning, with its central location, a rich variety of goods, and easy access. To the west, there is Varlibas Shopping Center near Magnus Park, offering a variety of luxury stores and international brands, as well as wonderful restaurants and cafes. This is a characteristic of Trabzon's malls that we will learn more about here.
6. Forum Trabzon Mall: Forum Trabzon in the Ortahisar suburb is one of the best malls in the city according to visitor reviews. It offers a modern shopping experience across 72,000 square meters, displaying products from the highest quality brands in clothing, shoes, accessories, sports supplies, and more, as well as restaurants, cafes, and cinemas. You can spend a whole day here and leave with a great impression.
7. Kemeralti Market Trabzon: One of the best historical markets in Trabzon. Kemeralti Market, also in the Ortahisar suburb, offers high-quality products such as clothes, fabrics, accessories, and both simple and valuable souvenirs, but it is most famous for Turkish perfumes known for their wonderful scents and longevity.
8. Russian Market Trabzon: Also known as the Russian Bazaar, it extends along Ibrahim Karaoglanoglu Street and is characterized by its imitation goods that are very close to the original in quality, making it an excellent buying opportunity for those with limited income, especially with the possibility of negotiating prices. This bazaar also offers wonderful accessories and ceramic products crafted by skilled Trabzon artisans, explaining the great turnout of lovers of antiques and collectibles.

Best Women's Clothing Stores in Trabzon

Most of the mentioned markets offer women's clothing suitable for all tastes and budgets, but there are more specialized stores. If you want to know about dress shops in Trabzon, here are some of the best and most prominent ones:

1. Mimoza Giyim: Specialized in wedding and evening dresses, located in the center of Trabzon, near Ataturk Square, offering custom tailoring.
2. Sevil Moda Evi: Offers beautiful wedding, engagement, and evening dresses, also providing tailoring services. Located on Cumhuriyet Street in Trabzon.
3. Nurhan Abiye: This store showcases evening and special occasion dresses, focusing on quality and detail. Located in Forum Trabzon Mall.
4. Viven Giyim: Situated on Kennedy Street, it offers a range of casual and elegant dresses for daily use at reasonable prices and modern designs.
5. Alti Altin Moda Evi: Found on Yilmaz Street near Trabzon city center, it is famous for its luxurious and unique designs, providing personal consultation services to help customers choose the perfect dress.
6. Moda Evi: Located on Zeytinlik Street, offering distinctive designs and custom dress services to meet brides' needs.
7. Fashion Store: Located on Gol Street, it offers a variety of trendy dresses at competitive prices, with a constantly updated selection.

Restaurants in Trabzon Near the Markets

Trabzon hosts many excellent restaurants located near these famous markets and stores. Here is a list of some of these wonderful restaurants:

1. Tarihi Kalkanoglu Pilavı: A family-run restaurant that will catch your eye with its beautiful decorations. It is one of the oldest restaurants near Moloz Market in Trabzon. Famous for its rice dishes, grilled meats, beans, and the famous Turkish sultac (baked rice pudding).
2. Cemilusta Restaurant: Overlooking the Black Sea in Trabzon Square, it is famous for serving traditional Turkish cuisine, especially kebabs.
3. Nihat Usta Restaurant: A distinctive restaurant near Forum Trabzon Mall, offering Turkish and Western foods. It has received excellent reviews for its meatballs, pizza, and ice cream dishes.
4. Katik Restaurant: One of the restaurants in Trabzon Square, close to the markets in that area. It is a favorite spot for lovers of Turkish shawarma, which this restaurant excels at presenting in various forms. You can dine in or take your orders to go, and many tourists prefer taking their sandwiches and strolling through Trabzon's markets.

Tips for a Shopping Tour in Trabzon's Markets

As a tourist exploring Trabzon's best markets for the first time, you will need the tips of shopping experts in both traditional bazaars and malls. Here are the most important ones:

1. Try to visit the markets in the morning to get the best deals and products.
2. Do not hesitate to negotiate prices, especially in traditional popular markets.
3. Don't miss the opportunity to taste local products in Trabzon, such as sweets, seafood, and kebabs.
4. Enjoy documenting your unique visit to Trabzon's markets by taking photos and buying souvenirs from these places that you will long to remember from time to time.
5. Keep an eye on your personal belongings while passing through Trabzon's best markets, especially during heavy crowds.